News from 2012

Expiring Tax Exemptions and Proposals to Limit Charitable Tax Deductions May Mean Now is the Time to Give

Next year may bring some unwelcome changes that will impact how we handle our charitable donations and financial gift giving.  When Congress extended the Bush Tax Cuts at the end of 2010, an unexpected benefit was created when the exemption amount for imposition of the Federal gift tax was increased to $5 million in 2011 and $5,120,000 in 2012. … Read On

Marcellus Shale – Recent Court Ruling Favors Municipalities

State utility regulators are advising municipalities in Pennsylvania on the validity of their zoning ordinances regulating natural gas drilling even as a major provision of the new state impact fee law or “Act 13” as it is better known is under court review.  On July 26, 2012, the Commonwealth Court in Robinson Township et al v… Read On

Craig Staudenmaier Speaks to Municipal Planners about RTK

Managing Partner, Craig Staudenmaier, recently addressed the Lehigh Valley section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planners Association (APA) on the state’s Right-to-Know (RTK) Law.  His presentation discussed public access to records dealing with planning issues including certain records of private businesses, which contract with municipalities. The APA is a diverse network of planners, commissioners, public officials… Read On

Nauman Smith Hosts CREDC Reception

Co-chairs Jim Nulton, PPL’s Regional Community Relations Director, and Sharon Ryan, President of Dasher, update guests on CREDC’s Capital Campaign On September 27, Nauman Smith hosted a reception in support of CREDC’s 2012 Capital Campaign.  The two-hour reception at the firm’s offices in the newly renovated Fulton Bank Building honored the hundreds of businesses and individuals who have contributed to the 2012 CREDC Campaign: Making a Difference that will support economic development in our region over the next four years… Read On

A Charitable Giving Policy for a Business

Most businesses today realize that a community benefit program can be a part of its marketing effort to develop community awareness and a means of promoting a sense of common purpose between the business and its employees.  A principal part of any community benefit program is charitable giving.  It can be a large or small program depending on the charitable intent of the principals of the business and the needs for community awareness of the business’ products… Read On

Scholarships for Children of Employees

With college tuitions rising, employers may consider scholarships for children of employees as a way to help.  Employers are often dissuaded from establishing such scholarships because the scholarships would be included in the parent employee’s compensation. There is what amounts to a presumption that scholarships for children of employees are compensation for the employees. In fact… Read On

Internet Takes Anonymous Free Speech to New Level

With the advent of the Internet and its explosive use, the ability of an individual to comment or “speak” via the Internet has become commonplace.  It is routine now to have the ability to comment on news articles, Internet videos, political events and similar activities via public forum on media websites, blogs and similar sites, which invite public reaction and comment. … Read On

Nauman Smith Partner Named Best Lawyer

Nauman Smith Shissler and Hall, LLP, is pleased to announce that Managing Partner, Craig J. Staudenmaier, was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 in the field of Commercial Litigation. Craig concentrates his practice in the areas of state and federal litigation and media/Right-to-Know law. He routinely represents clients in all phases of the litigation process including mediation and arbitration… Read On

Court Denies Action to Enforce Final Determination of Office of Open Records

The Commonwealth Court has affirmed the denial of a civil action brought by an open records requester to enforce a favorable final determination.  Crockett v. Southeastern Transportation Authority (SEPTA), 2295 C.D. 2011 (Pa.Cwlth. 9/11/12).  The case is noteworthy as the first appellate court decision to address the procedure to challenge an agency’s actions after the issuance of a final determination. … Read On

Supreme Court directs Commonwealth Court to decide school teacher’s home address case

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, that a case brought by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) to prevent the Office of Open Records (OOR) from ordering school districts to release the home addresses of public school employees be remanded to the Commonwealth Court. Pennslyvania State Eduation Association v. Com., Dep’t of Comm… Read On


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